The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1887-01-08

hundred years ago, when the Parsees
first settled in Bombay, and has been
used only by his descendants. The SEQ
ond was erected in 1856, and the re-
naming three at intervals during the
following century.
Standing quite apart from the others
is sixth square tower, and here are
brought the bodies of criminals. ostra-
cized in death as in life, for their bones
must not be allowed to touch those of
good men.
On the iron gates which guard the
entrance to the garden is notice that
only Parsees are allowed to enter the
sacred precincts Could we pass be-
yond the gates and approach one of
the towers, we should find it to consist
of solid masonry for some twelve or
| fifteen. feet from the ground-solid
save in the center, where well six
feet in diameter leads down to subter-
ranean chambers beneath the stone,
where are four drains crossing at right
angles, and terminating in holes filled
with charcoal. The top of this solid
cylindrical structure is divided into
seventy-two compartments or stone
collins, arranged in three circles
around the well, their common center,
from which the divisions radiate. Here
again we see the sacred numbers three
and seventy-two. A narrow ridge of
stone separates them one from the
other, and each circle is divided from
the next by a pathway, the smallest
living around the well. Leading from
the single door which admits the Nasa-
salar, or corpse-bearers, from without,
is another pathway crossing the others,
thus giving easy access to all the divi-
sions, in the outer circle of which are
laid the bodies of men, in the second
those of women, and in the third and
smallest those of little children. Ris-
ing from this solid masonry, and join
ing it in the same line, is a wall or
parapet some ten feet high, also of
stone covered with chunam, which
} quite conceals the interior from view.
J When a medical attendant decides
that Parsee can not recover, priest
is sent for, who approaches the bed
| and repeats various texts from the
Zend-Avesta calculated to afford con-
ISOLATION to the dying man. Prayers
are also said for the forgiveness of his
: sins. When he dies a funeral sermon
u
the deceased to live pure and holy lives
; that they may meet him in paradise.
) They are reminded that they must one
1 day be called from this world to the
l presence of God to give full account
t of their deeds here, and as they do moi
know how soon that may be they are
urged to prepare for death, and tc
meet it with a resignation and willing
$ ness. Riches, wealth, influence an6
friends have no avail in the next world
1 Those who desire to reach the eterna
l paradise, must spend their days here
in holiness and prayer, and in doing
= good to their fellow-creatures.
1 The sermon lasts about an hour, anC
/ concludes with the words: ''May Goo
: have mercy on the dead4''
o The body is brought down to thu
S ground-foor (where it was born)
/, washed, perfumed, wrapped in whit
j sheet and placed upon an iron bier. 4
dog is brought to gaze at the dead fac,
: of his master to drive away evil spirits
: Several priests attend and repea
}. prayers for the repose of the soul o
/, the departed and that it may safel,
t reace its destination, which it is sup
: posed to do on the fourth day afte
j. death. The relatives and friends al
l. bow low in token of respect, and tn
o Nasasalar, clad in pure white gar
y ments (Which are always furnished new
II for every funeraD, raise the bier an
bear the body from the house, Will
e the mourners utter loud cries an
IS lamentations. Priests in full dres
= lead the procession, in which are onl
/ al, l., Co.. l., Ia Al
), deceased. They, too, are dressed i
i white, and walk two by two, eac
i couple joined by holding white hand
, kerchief between them.
l. When the bearers reach the pat
7. leading TO the door of the tower, the
A. place the bier upon the ground and Ill
IL cover the face of the dead, that tn
l. friends may take a last look, and a
y reverently bow, after which the mourn
n ers turn back, and enter one of til
lie Sagri, and pray for the departed spiri
n The bearers proceed to the tower, an
g unlocking the door, carry their burde
ID within, and quickly lay it uncovered
lie one of the stone receptacles, In tW
IN minutes they appear with the empt
bier and white sheet, and the door is 4
of sooner closed behind them than hume
a. Gus vultures, that have been sitting a
of most motionless in circle on the eds
I'd of the parapet, swoop down upon Il
I'd body, and in few minutes return an
W lazily settle themselves again, havir
tn left nothing behind but a skeleton. III
rs bearers. on leaving the tower, procet
n to building shaped like a huge barre
Mt where they battle and change the
clothes, bringing out their pollutl
ne funeral garb and casting it aside upC
ip receptacle of stone prepared for tn
d, purpose. None of these garments CT
of leave the garden, lest they carry co
b, tamination with them.
ed The skeleton is left to be bleach,
ut and washed by sun and rain, and wht
d. three or four weeks have passed, Il
as same bearers return, and with GLOW,
er hands and instruments like tongs DIR,
lr- the bones into their last resting plac
zee the central we'll. The peculiar duti
re- of the Nasasalar are considered so j
n separable from defilement that, for
of ing distinct class. they are compell
tie to i've quite apart from the rest of t
ed community, and as a partial compens
ri ton for their isolation they are liberal